Gerika Spradley

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11/21/2021

For The Love of The Mat

Austin Wayne was a 2 times state champion wrestler. He at slept and breathed wrestling.

His nickname on the mat was “The Tank.” At 195 lbs. he was built like a Mack truck. He had

faced and taken down the best of the best in the state of Virginia. Now he had to face the best of

the nation. The national championship held in the state of Ohio had the top placers out of all 50

states, which meant Austin had to face Lucas Baxter who is ranked number 1 in the nation. To

say Austin was pumped was an understatement, he was so ready to face off against Lucas. Austin

poured himself into his workouts spending every minute he wasn’t in school or sleeping on the

mat or in the gym, that is until she walked into the gym. Sarah Steele, she had just moved to

town, and they had a couple classes together. He hadn’t really given much thought to her until

today. She had on a teal sports bra and black leggings that hugged her curves and stopped just

above her ankles her teal adidas tennis shoes matched her sports bra perfectly. Her tanned skin

made the toned muscles of her body stand out just enough for him to notice a small butterfly

tattoo at the small of her back. “Helloooo…?” Austin heard as he snapped back to reality it was

his best friend, James. “What?” Austin said looking at James confused. “I’ve been talking to you

for 5 minutes and you were in la la land. Where did you go?” Austin looked at him and rubbed

the back of his neck “sorry bro” he said, “I was checking out the new girl.” James looked at

Sarah then back at Austin “you never notice girls bro why are you looking at her?” “I don’t know

man something about her just draws me in I need to talk to her.” James looked at Austin “aren’t

you forgetting about focusing on nationals I thought you said no distractions.” “I did but this

feels different like a good distraction.”

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Austin walks across the gym to Sarah “Hey there” he says Sarah looks at him in the

mirror not stopping her bicep curls “Hi” she says. He looked at her “I saw you and just wanted to

come say hi we have a few classes together and I’ve notices you here a couple of times, so I

wanted to introduce myself I’m Austin Wayne nice to meet you.” Sarah smirked a little almost

like she had a secret she couldn’t tell. Austin thought it was cute. She put down her dumbbells

and turned to face Austin she extended her hand “I’m Sarah nice to meet you too.” They shook

hands and something told Austin he was in a lot of trouble with this girl. But he never imagined

what she had in store. Sarah and Austin hit it off quickly and began spending a lot of time

together. Instead of working on the mat or in the gym Austin was with her, James noticed Austin

not working as hard and said something about it. Austin assured him he was ready. A month

before nationals they had a prelim match so everyone could meet their opponents and get the

chance to drill with them. Austin was ready he got there and warmed up before meeting Lucas,

his only real competition, or so he thought. Once the matches got started Austin realized he was

not as ready as he though he was. He won his first match but only by decision and only by one

point, had his opponent gotten away one time he would have lost. His second match he wasn’t as

lucky he lost and to a guy who was only there because the guy who had won for his state was

found with steroids, so he was disqualified. James was right he had to buckle down or he was

going to lose. Austin looked around he didn’t want to wrestle Lucas until he knew he was ready,

so he faked an injury he went to the trainer for ice to make it look real. As he was limping back

to his seat, he saw a familiar figure he walked up and tapped her on the shoulder “hey there

beautiful” he said as Sarah turned around. He was surprised to see her there because she told him
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she couldn’t miss school to be there. Sarah smiled at him “Hey there yourself” she said

“surprise!” Austin smiled at her excited to see her. He was so excited in fact that he hadn’t

noticed Lucas walking up to them “Sarah” he called “Mom wants you!” “OK” Sarah said as

Lucas walked up beside her smirking, the same smirk that Austin had fallen in love with when

Sarah did it. Austin looked at her confused “Austin this is my brother Lucas.” Sarah said with a

pained look on her face. “Brother?” Austin said he looked at them as everything began to click

“Was any of it real?” he asked her angrily “No you idiot I sent her to get in your head you were

the only real competition I had if I took you out, I win the whole thing.” Lucas said and the smile

on his face made Austin even more angry. He looked at Sarah “I loved you” she looked at him

like she was genuinely hurt. “Well, she doesn’t love you! Let’s go Sarah mom is waiting.” Sarah

waited a minute after Lucas walked away “I love you too Austin it started out as a way to help

my brother, but I fell for you along the way.” Austin was too angry to listen “Just go away Sarah

I never want to see you again.” He left with a new determination to win he wanted it now more

than ever. Austin got home and went back to daily workouts and hours spent on the mat he

pushed himself harder than ever. Sarah called and texted multiple times a day, but her parents

had moved her back home, so he no longer had to see her at school. Austin ignored her calls and

texts, but he couldn’t deny missing her he had fallen in love with her, but he had to block her

from his thoughts and work. The month between prelims and nationals flew by and Austin had

worked as hard as he could to get ready, he knew he could win. The day of nationals Austin got a

text from a number he didn’t recognize it said “L.B. is going to cheat watch out for the sweep.”

Austin read and reread the text “L.B.? is that Lucas Baxter?” it had to be he thought. “Watch out
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for the sweep. What does that mean?” Austin ignored it he wasn’t going to worry about it, it was

probably just someone trying to get in his head. Sitting in the Arena full of people was Sarah she

wanted to talk to Austin so bad she had to find him. She went to look for him walking past all the

food stands she spotted him in an empty corner practicing his shots. She walked over to him

“Hey” she said in a quiet small voice “I’ve tried to call and sent a bunch of texts.” Austin

stopped when he heard her voice. “I know I ignored them” he said, “Austin I’m so sorry I really

do love you I never meant to hurt you I tried to tell you the truth, but I knew you would never

forgive me.” “Well, you got that right” Austin said trying to hide how much he missed her.

“Well, I just wanted to apologize and tell you good luck.” “OK…Thanks” Austin said Sarah

looked at him wanting to hug him “I truly am sorry Austin and I do love you.” “Watch out, out

there my brother has been working on a new move I’d hate for him to sweep the floor with you.”

Austin looked up “What did you just say?” but she had already walked off. “Is she the one who

texted me?” Austin thought to himself. “What’s this new move?” The tournament had started,

and he didn’t have time to worry about it. He wrestled his first 3 matches locking in 3 wins he

was on to the finals. Lucas had also won his first 3 matches meaning they were going head-to-

head for the national championship title. Their match started and both guys were going full out

by the end of the second period they were tied up and both tired. Austin looked around trying to

calm himself before the third round started and he noticed Sarah in the crowd waving to him she

was making sweeping motion with her hand he thought back to their interaction earlier in the day

“I’d hate for him to sweep the floor with you.” He remembered her saying then remembered her

telling him about the new move Lucas had been working on. The buzzer for the third period
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sounded Austin snapped back ready to go they lined up on the mat the ref blew the whistle, and

the period began they pushed each other around for a while then Lucas let go and stepped back.

He smirked at Austin and Austin knew this was it “watch out for the sweep” he heard Sarah’s

voice say. Lucas stepped forward and swept his leg across the floor ready to knock Austin off his

feet, but Austin jumped over his leg and pushed him to his back. This was it Austin had him he

dropped his hips and pushed Lucas’ shoulders to the mat. The whistle sounded the ref slapped

the mat he did it he won! Austin jumped up he was the national champion he had defeated the

best of the best. After the match Sarah came to find him when he saw her, he grabbed her, picked

her up and spun her around. She giggled “Congratulations” she said “I knew you could do it”

“Not without your tip” he said. “Thank you” “I just wanted to show you how sorry I am and how

much I love you” she said. He put her down “I love you too Sarah” he said and kissed her

deeply. “Let’s go eat” she said. “Deal” said Austin.